Accessible Web

Overview

Given the Web's increasingly important role in society, access to the Web is vital for people with disabilities. Abilities can vary from person to person, and over time, for different people with the same type of disability. People can have combinations of different disabilities, and combinations of varying levels of severity.

When you design or modify Web sites to allow access to people with disabilities, you make the Web accessible. New Web sites and applications, however, are introducing new problems and barriers. There are complex graphics and multimedia applications that assistive technology simply has not solved.

Section 508 This is the most recent law relating to accessibility and is often referred to as "Section 508." In 1998, the president signed into law the Workforce Investment Act, which amended Section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1986 and significantly expanded and strengthened the technology access requirements of the 1986 act. <<More>>

Assistive Technology Assistive technology is a piece of equipment or a software product that is used to increase, maintain, or assist the functional capabilities of individuals with disabilities Assistive technologies include magnifiers, screen readers, closed captioning, keyboard enhancements, and highlighting software. Assistive technology uses the coding and content of your Web site and makes it accessible.

Related Topics How can you make a site Accessible? Accessibility makes good Business Cents! Principles of Accessible design. Accessibility Solution. Accessibility FAQs.

Meeting the standards of an accessible Web site first requires an awareness of the special needs of users who have disabilities. The three main categories of disabilities are visual, hearing, mobility, and cognitive impairment. Each person with a disability might encounter one or more barriers that can be eliminated or minimized by the Web developer, the browser, the assistive technology, or the underlying operating system software and hardware platform.